HUNTSVILLE, Alabama -- An Alabama Republican Party committee will hold a hearing Friday to review a complaint against Chris Messervy, who won the GOP runoff election April 24 for a Madison County District Court judge seat.

The complaint filed by two Madison County Republicans, George Barry and Phil Williams, seeks to have Messervy disqualified as a candidate based on violations of the Alabama Fair Campaign Practices Act.

Huntsville attorney Chris Messervy is running for a Madison County District Court judgeship. (The Huntsville Times/Dave Dieter)

Both men are supporters of Linda Coats, who Messervy defeated in the runoff after he captured 61 percent of the vote. Coats won the March primary with nearly 49 percent of the vote.

Coats said this morning neither man gave money to her campaign and they are not acting on her behalf. She said Williams is the father of Alabama Sen. Phil Williams, R-Rainbow City, who was involved in drafting last year's ethics legislation, and that Barry enlisted Williams help drafting the complaint.

The hearing is before the candidate committee of the Alabama Republican Party's Executive Committee. It will be held in Birmingham and both sides will be asked to make presentations.

If the committee disqualifies Messervy as a candidate, the state party has the authority to select a new nominee to be on the November ballot. There is no Democrat running for the district court seat that is currently held by District Judge Lynn Sherrod.

Messervy declined to comment this morning, citing his attorney's recommendation to not make a statement until the hearing is completed.

Alabama law requires candidates to file monthly and, during the final months of a campaign, weekly financial disclosures showing itemized contributions of $100 or more and campaign expenditures.

According to Alabama Secretary of State records, of the 22 filings required since September 30, Messervy had at least 15 late filings, 11 of which were less than a week late. One filing due March 9, was filed on the date of the primary election, March 13. His March monthly filing due March 31, was a month late.

Coats has two late filings, according to the secretary of state's website.

The December records aren't clear when that month's filing was received for either candidate given that it was a holiday weekend.

According to campaign finance records Messervy raised more than $41,000, while Coats raised more than $17,000.

The current office holder Sherrod is running as a Democrat for a circuit court judge's seat against Republican Chris Comer.